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IT HAS been years since Bill Olah has tinkered with the tools, but with four of his mechanics cut off by floodwater, he's stepped up to save his business.

Five of the staff from Ron Hill Automatics are stranded at Manar Park in Proston, north-west of Kingaroy.

They headed off on an Australia Day long-weekend camping trip, which was meant to involve the whole team, but at the 11th hour Bill and his wife Sandra and another one of their mechanics changed their minds due to the bad weather.

Mrs Olah said they were due back on Monday, but were now among 250 campers isolated by floodwater.

"All surrounding roads are under and it would be a week to four weeks to get them out," she said.

Not knowing how long it will be until his staff are back at work and with more car repairs coming in, Mr Olah has no choice but to return to full-time mechanical duties.

"He's back in the workshop to get some cash flow back into the bank," Mrs Olah said.

"We're struggling as a small business. Our workshop is full of vehicles in need of repair with more tow-ins due to the recent weather.

"It's amazing how even though we haven't been flooded directly, indirectly we're being affected.

"It could be worse, we're not sweeping out flood damage, but five of our guys are unavailable to get to work."

Mrs Olah said the South Burnett Regional Council had worked around the clock to clear surrounding roads and local SES crews were making sure the campers were well fed.

"They only packed enough food for the long weekend, they had an SES drop out yesterday with four days worth of food," she said.

"They have to pay for the food through the camping ground and they're also being charged camping fees. They're stuck there.

"They're all well, but frustrated they can't get out, with no light at the end of the tunnel."